29 



The first impression arising from an examination of the 

 accounts of the Society for the present year is one of regret 

 that it has been found necessary to reduce the funded capital 

 by a sale of £2000 Stock, but upon closer consideration the 

 result will be gratifying, as the Expenditure is, to a certain 

 extent, within the control of the Society, whereas the branch 

 of Income which we have most reason to fear to be of a fluc- 

 tuating nature, and from which the largest amount is usually 

 received, namely, the Admission-money taken at the Garden 

 Gates, has not fallen off to an extent at all approaching what 

 might have been expected, considering the many discouraging 

 public afflictions which have characterized the past season, 

 the amount received being £10,798 19s. 6d., which presents 

 a decrease of only £544 2s. Od., as compared with the receipts 

 of 1853, and the large increase of £2869 165. Od., as compared 

 with the receipts of 1852. 



The amount of Income received from Annual Subscriptions 

 being £2803 125. Od., presents an increase of £239 3*. Od., 

 when compared with 1853 ; and the Admission Fees have 

 also increased by £160, and the Compositions by £380. 



On the other hand, the Expenditure has increased also. 

 The cost of Provisions has been greater by £778 18*. lOd. 

 than in the preceding year ; an excess which the rise of prices 

 has rendered unavoidable. 



The Salaries and Wages present an increase of £419 45. 2d., 

 the principal cause of which is to be found in the sum of 

 £282, which the Council considered it desirable to give to 

 the Servants in the Menagerie in the shape of Gratuities, as 

 a compensation for the present increased value of labour. 



The most considerable item of Expenditure still remains, as 

 in many former years, charged to Buildings, Works and Re- 

 pairs, the total of which in 1854 amounts to £4210 175. 7d. 

 £2903 155. lOd. was spent under these heads in 1853, and 

 £14,957 5*- 7d. during the three preceding years ; making a 

 total since 1850 of £22,07 1 195. Od. 



